Friday of the Thirty-Fourth Week in Ordinary Time (I)

I, Daniel, saw my vision by night:
See the four winds of heaven
blew upon the great sea.
And four great beasts,
different one from another,
came up out of the sea.

The first was like a lion,
but had the wings of an eagle.
I watched until its wings were plucked off,
and it was lifted up from the earth,
and stood upon its feet like a human,
and the mind of a human was given to it.

Behold another beast like a bear
stood up on one side,
and there were three tusks in its mouth,
among its teeth.
They said to it: “Arise, devour much flesh.”

After this I looked,
and lo, another like a leopard.
It had upon it four wings like a bird,
and the beast had four heads,
and power was given to it.

After this I beheld
in the vision of the night,
a fourth beast, terrible and awful,
exceedingly strong.
It had great iron teeth,
eating and breaking in pieces,
and treading down the rest with its feet.
It was unlike to the other beasts
which I had seen before it.
It had ten horns.
I considered the horns,
and behold another little horn
sprung out of the midst of them,
and three of the first horns
were plucked up at its presence.
Behold eyes like the eyes of a human
were in this horn,
and a mouth speaking great things.
I watched until thrones were placed,
and the Ancient of Days sat down.
His garment was white as snow,
and the hair of his head like clean wool.
His throne was like flames of fire,
and the wheels of it like a burning fire.
A swift stream of fire issued forth from before him.
Thousands upon thousands ministered to him,
and a myriad of myriads stood before him.
The court sat in judgment,
and the books were opened.

I looked because of the voice of the great words
which that horn spoke,
and I saw that the beast was slain,
and its body was destroyed
and given to the fire to be burned.
The power of the other beasts was taken away,
and lifetimes were appointed them
for a season and a time.

I beheld therefore in the vision of the night,
and lo, one like a son of man came
with the clouds of heaven,
and he came even to the Ancient of Days,
and they presented him before him.
He gave him power, and glory, and a kingdom.
All peoples, tribes and tongues shall serve him.
His power is an everlasting power
that shall not be taken away,
and his kingdom shall not be destroyed.

Responsorial – Daniel 3.75, 76, 77, 78, 79, 80, 81 Resp. Psalm 66.2b

R. Give to him glory and praise!

Mountains and hills, bless the Lord;
praise and exalt him above all forever.

R. Give to him glory and praise!

All things that spring up from the earth, bless the Lord;
praise and exalt him above all forever.

R. Give to him glory and praise!

O fountains, bless the Lord;
praise and exalt him above all forever.

R. Give to him glory and praise!

Seas and rivers, bless the Lord;
praise and exalt him above all forever.

R. Give to him glory and praise!

You whales and all that move in the waters, bless the Lord;
praise and exalt him above all forever.

R. Give to him glory and praise!

All you birds of the air, bless the Lord;
praise and exalt him above all forever.

R. Give to him glory and praise!

All you beasts and cattle, bless the Lord;
praise and exalt him above all forever.

R. Give to him glory and praise!

Gospel – Luke 21.29-33

Jesus told his disciples a parable:
“See the fig tree and all the trees.
When they have already put out buds,
you see for yourself,
and you know that summer is already near.
Just so, when you see these things happening,
know that the kingdom of God is near.
Amen, I say to you,
this kind shall not pass away,
until all has happened.
Heaven and earth shall pass away,
but my words shall not pass away.